Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1887-07-27
ONE OF PAREPA's CHARITIES.
She Lhfts a Little Crippled Musician
Into Fame and Fortune.

The season OF music WAS closing
Satiated with praise, Parepa Rosa
drew her fur wrap about her shoul-
ders and, stepping from the private
entrance OF the Grand" was about
10 enter her carriage, when "Please,
miladi," in low, pleading accents, ar
rested her attention 1t was only the
shrunken, misshapen form of little
Eitln. the Italian street-singer, with
his old violin under his arm; but the
face upturned In the gaslIght, though
pale and pinched, was as delicately
cut as cameo. while the eager, wist-
fnl light in the great brilliant eyes. the
culver of entreaty in the soft Italian
voice, held her for moment against
her escorts endeavor to save her the
| annoyance OF hearing a beggar's plea.
"Wellp" said the great singer, half
impatient, but full of pity.
Would mlladi pleasep" in sweet,
brown hands of the dwarf held I'D a
fragrant white lily. with a crystal drop
III its golden heart.
"Do you meaC this lovely flower for
me?"
! y passionate gesture WAS his answer.
/ Taking the flower, Parepa Rosa bent
Ter stately head.
/ You heard me sing?''
/ ''MiladI, / hid under the stair.
l Twas yesterday heard the voice. On,
miladi, miladi, L could diel''
The words came brokenly from quiv-
ering lips passionately in earnest. The
loud voice of the world she had just
left had never shown Parepa Rosa the
power of her grand voice as she saw il
now in these soft, dark eyes afiame and
in the sobbing, broken words, "Oh,
miladi, mIladi, could diel"
''Child," and her voice trembled.
'meet me here tomorrow at D
! ingly to her cheek, she stepped into her
carriage and was driven away.
1t was Parepa ROsa's last night. In
a box near the stage sat little Elfin like
one entranced. Grandly the clear
voice swelled its triumphant chords and
rang amid the arches with unearthly
power and sweetness. The sligh.
frame of the boy swayed and shook
and look SO rapt, so intense, came on
his face, you know his very heart was
Stilled. Then the woIdrous voice
trSed softly, like the FAINT sound OF
bugles in the early morn; again il:
| sweetness stole over you like the dis
tant chimes of vesper bells. Encore
after encore followed. The curtain
rolled up for the last time, and as
simply as possible the manager told the
! audience of last nights incident, and
announced that Parepa ROsaS fare
well to them would be the simple bal
lad warbled many 4 bitter day through
the city streets by little Elfin, the
Italian musician.
| Long and prolonged was the ap-
s---=-OS s-a4Si saS StiC al u pause, sweeping
! With royal grace, came our queen u
song. at her breast was the fragrant
lily. Qleen, too, by right OF her beau
tiful, uustained womanhood, as well a:
by the power of her sublime voice, shi
stood moment. then sang clearly and
softly the ballad, with Its refrain o.
Farewell. Sweet Land" Accom-
panyIng her came the low, sweet wal
OF little Elfin's violin. There WAS 81.
!ence in the great house at the close
then shout went out that shook the
mighty pillars
y whisper beng heard that Parepa
Rosa meant TO educate the boy musi
cally, the generous hearts of few
opened the gates of fortune for little
Eltin. To-day he Is great and famous
1.-THE boy violinist.'' and they call hin
20 play before princess.